TDThe African Democratic Congress (ADC) has plunged into a new chapter of turmoil and realignment as Dumebi Kachikwu has emerged as the party’s presidential candidate in a convention that unfolded with tension, factional rivalry, and dramatic shifts in loyalty.
The Abuja gathering, billed as a unifying event, instead highlighted the deep cracks within the party’s leadership and structure.
Leadership Overhaul
In a stunning move, the ADC dissolved its National Working Committee (NWC) caretaker team led by Distinguished Senator David Mark.
This decision effectively sidelined Mark’s faction, which had been battling for control of the party.
A new NWC was immediately elected, now headed by Alhaji Mohammed Abdulkadir Bashir.
Alongside Bashir’s emergence, Hon. Kennedy O. Odion was announced as the new National Secretary, signaling a complete overhaul of the party’s leadership.
The shake-up is widely seen as a consolidation of power by the Legacy Chairmen faction, which has long contested Mark’s authority.
Court Battles and Legal Confusion
The convention did not occur in a vacuum.
It followed weeks of intense legal wrangling that left the party’s leadership in limbo.
The Supreme Court recently returned the matter involving David Mark and Nafiu Bala to the Federal High Court.
It, hoswever. removed the “status quo ante bellum” order that had previously frozen party activities.
Before that ruling, the Legacy Chairmen had secured a High Court judgment nullifying ADC congresses and placing themselves as the National Executive Committee (NEC) in charge.
Later, Justice Nwite of the Federal High Court adjourned the David Mark and Nafiu Bala case sine die, leaving the leadership question unresolved.
This legal uncertainty created the backdrop for the convention, allowing the Legacy Chairmen to push forward with their agenda.
Convention Control
With nomination forms already on sale and the convention holding in Abuja, the pressing question remains: who truly controls the ADC?
Analysts argue that the Legacy Chairmen are asserting authority, while David Mark’s faction continues to contest legitimacy.
The convention that produced Dumebi Kachukwu is widely interpreted as being driven by the Legacy Chairmen’s camp.
Their ability to organize, sell forms, and elect a new NWC suggests they currently hold practical control, even if the courts have not delivered a final ruling.
Where Forms Were Bought
Party insiders confirm that nomination forms for aspirants in past cycles, were purchased directly through ADC’s official channels.
Aspirants include those of high-profile politicians such as Atiku Abubakar and Rotimi Amaechi.
This year, the structures controlled by the Legacy Chairmen reportedly managed the process.
Their control over the sale of forms further strengthens their claim to legitimacy, even as David Mark’s faction insists on its own authority.
Current Position
Has ADC resolved its crisis? Not entirely.
The Supreme Court’s decision left matters hanging, and the Federal High Court has yet to deliver a definitive ruling.
For now, the Legacy Chairmen appear to hold sway, with their convention producing both a presidential candidate and a new NWC.
David Mark’s faction remains sidelined but legally alive, waiting for the courts to clarify the party’s leadership.
What It Means
The emergence of Dumebi Kachukwu as presidential candidate signals consolidation by one faction.
Yet the unresolved court cases mean the party’s future remains uncertain.
The convention may strengthen the Legacy Chairmen’s grip, but critics warn that lingering disputes could weaken ADC ahead of national polls.
Internal divisions risk undermining the party’s credibility and its ability to mount a serious challenge in Nigeria’s crowded political field.
ADC’s national convention has reshaped its leadership and produced a presidential candidate.
But the party’s internal battles are far from over.
The next steps in court will determine whether this new structure stands firm or faces another collapse.
For now, Dumebi Kachukwu’s candidacy marks a turning point in ADC’s turbulent journey.
It could either unify the party under Legacy Chairmen control or deepen the fractures that have plagued it for months.
